The World Organisation for Animal Health has released new guidance urging countries to adopt harmonised international trade standards as vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza gains momentum globally. With more than 40 nations now implementing or considering HPAI vaccination programmes, WOAH emphasises that inconsistent trade policies threaten both food security and economic stability across regions. The organisation’s position is grounded in scientific evidence demonstrating that properly implemented vaccination programmes do not compromise food safety or increase disease transmission risks. Recent studies published in Avian Pathology confirm that vaccinated poultry products pose no additional health risks to consumers. WOAH advocates for evidence-based health policy in international trade, calling for restrictions to be determined by scientific risk assessment rather than blanket prohibitions that undermine global markets.
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